Visiting New London

A

Auggie

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Mar 21, 2021
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Hi,
My daughter is attending AIM this summer (session 3). My husband and I plan on spending the week out there exploring the area. I was there for Bears Day with my daughter, but that was in November 2019 and pretty much everything was shut down for the season. Are there any "can't miss" places to visit, eat at, explore, etc? I would love to hear from those that have explored the New London / Mystic area. Thanks in advance!
 
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181693 said:
Interested as well.
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I did find that of all the hotels, Marriott in Mystic offers the best rates if you are visiting USCGA. $104/night in July. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in New London when we were there the last time and it was good, but we enjoyed the dining (what was actually open in the off season) and shopping better in the Mystic area.
 
We appreciated the Holiday Inn's proximity to the USCGA, but planned on a bit of a drive for most meals and entertainment. One of our favorite spots for dinner is Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant in East Lyme.
 
There's actually lot's of good dining in the area! Some of my favorites are The Social (American and Taphouse/Bar), The Engineroom (slightly upscale American), Grass and Bone (butcher shop also serving fresh meat dishes), and Mango's (best pizza I've ever had and a great beer selection). That's just off the top of my head, there's plenty of other's.
 
We always try to stay in the Hilton at Mystic when visiting. Great service and nice location. Mystic Seaport is great for visit, lovely shops, fantastic places to eat and you can enjoy a boat ride. Mystic Aquarium is also nice. Places to eat, Captain Daniel Packer Inne and Peking Tokyo are probably our favorites.
 
I used to travel regularly in business to USCGA until about 2 years ago. I liked the Hilton Garden Inn just over the bridge in Groton. Nice and quiet. I always found time to run by Paul’s Pasta in Groton for take-out or a “neighborhood gem” sit down; they are in an old house. Generous servings, house made pasta, fresh daily. Italian-American dishes.
www.paulspastashop.com

Paul's Pasta Shop

Fine Dining experience GROTON, CT Welcome to Paul's Pasta Shop! We have been making fresh pasta and delicious meals since 1988. Our goal continues to be offering the finest pasta products in the region and to serve delicious, homemade meals at reasonable prices
www.paulspastashop.com www.paulspastashop.com

If any of our USNA sponsor family alumni were at Sub Officer Basic School, this is where I would take them. They are still big eaters at that stage.
 
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Capt MJ said:
I used to travel regularly in business to USCGA until about 2 years ago. I liked the Hilton Garden Inn just over the bridge in Groton. Nice and quiet. I always found time to run by Paul’s Pasta in Groton for take-out or a “neighborhood gem” sit down; they are in an old house. Generous servings, house made pasta, fresh daily. Italian-American dishes.
www.paulspastashop.com

Paul's Pasta Shop

Fine Dining experience GROTON, CT Welcome to Paul's Pasta Shop! We have been making fresh pasta and delicious meals since 1988. Our goal continues to be offering the finest pasta products in the region and to serve delicious, homemade meals at reasonable prices
www.paulspastashop.com www.paulspastashop.com

If any of our USNA sponsor family alumni were at Sub Officer Basic School, this is where I would take them. They are still big eaters at that stage.
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Thanks for the wonderful memory of Paul's Pasta. Spouse and I would go out to eat there when we were dating decades ago. Back then Paul's Pasta was great and I'm sure still is, highly recommend! We've been waiting for a reunion (and covid to end) to go back to visit.
 
I grew up there. Visit Mystic Aquarium, Mystic Seaport and the USS Nautilus Museum (in Groton). Mystic is probably the best place to stay although the Mystic Marriott (which is in Groton) is right off the highway. For shopping you can try Olde Mistick Village, Downtown Mystic and the outlets at Foxwoods, Clinton and Westbrook.
 
I am from the area--it's very quaint and touristy. I recommend staying somewhere in the Stonington Borough, it's about 20 minutes from USCGA (Mystic is about halfway between). Hotels in Mystic are nice but are nothing unique.

Tips from a local, avoid Downtown Mystic on the weekend. It's packed, and generally overpriced (though very pretty). Tours on the Argia are a cool way to see the area. Downtown New London is alright, but I don't recommend spending much time there.

Food:
Dog Watch Cafe (Stonington, not the Mystic one, casual really good seafood)
Engine Room (Mystic, seafood & good burgers)
Paul's Pasta (Groton)
Grass and Bone (Mystic, farm-to-table butcher shop & really good rotisserie chicken)
Mango's Pizza (Mystic)
Pink Basil (Mystic, Thai place)
Jealous Monk (Mystic, beer)
Bleu Squid (Mystic, breakfast)
Breakwater (Stonington, seafood)

Things to do:
Mystic Aquarium (I've been about a billion times. It's pretty nice. Cute whales.)
Mystic Seaport (check it out if you're into maritime history)
Foxwoods Casino & outlet mall
Nautilus Museum (submarine & naval museum, Groton)
Walk around Stonington Borough
Olde Mystik Village (cheesy shopping, cute)
Downtown Mystic
Rent paddleboards in Mystic
Fort Griswold & Fort Putnam
Hike Lantern Hill (ton of other hiking too).

If you have more specific questions I'm happy to answer. I am a cadet at USMA but grew up around USCGA; my family sponsors some of their cadets.
 
prospective2019 said:
I am from the area--it's very quaint and touristy. I recommend staying somewhere in the Stonington Borough, it's about 20 minutes from USCGA (Mystic is about halfway between). Hotels in Mystic are nice but are nothing unique.

Tips from a local, avoid Downtown Mystic on the weekend. It's packed, and generally overpriced (though very pretty). Tours on the Argia are a cool way to see the area. Downtown New London is alright, but I don't recommend spending much time there.

Food:
Dog Watch Cafe (Stonington, not the Mystic one, casual really good seafood)
Engine Room (Mystic, seafood & good burgers)
Paul's Pasta (Groton)
Grass and Bone (Mystic, farm-to-table butcher shop & really good rotisserie chicken)
Mango's Pizza (Mystic)
Pink Basil (Mystic, Thai place)
Jealous Monk (Mystic, beer)
Bleu Squid (Mystic, breakfast)
Breakwater (Stonington, seafood)

Things to do:
Mystic Aquarium (I've been about a billion times. It's pretty nice. Cute whales.)
Mystic Seaport (check it out if you're into maritime history)
Foxwoods Casino & outlet mall
Nautilus Museum (submarine & naval museum, Groton)
Walk around Stonington Borough
Olde Mystik Village (cheesy shopping, cute)
Downtown Mystic
Rent paddleboards in Mystic
Fort Griswold & Fort Putnam
Hike Lantern Hill (ton of other hiking too).

If you have more specific questions I'm happy to answer. I am a cadet at USMA but grew up around USCGA; my family sponsors some of their cadets.
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Love Bleu Squid!!
 
prospective2019 said:
I am from the area--it's very quaint and touristy. I recommend staying somewhere in the Stonington Borough, it's about 20 minutes from USCGA (Mystic is about halfway between). Hotels in Mystic are nice but are nothing unique.

Tips from a local, avoid Downtown Mystic on the weekend. It's packed, and generally overpriced (though very pretty). Tours on the Argia are a cool way to see the area. Downtown New London is alright, but I don't recommend spending much time there.

Food:
Dog Watch Cafe (Stonington, not the Mystic one, casual really good seafood)
Engine Room (Mystic, seafood & good burgers)
Paul's Pasta (Groton)
Grass and Bone (Mystic, farm-to-table butcher shop & really good rotisserie chicken)
Mango's Pizza (Mystic)
Pink Basil (Mystic, Thai place)
Jealous Monk (Mystic, beer)
Bleu Squid (Mystic, breakfast)
Breakwater (Stonington, seafood)

Things to do:
Mystic Aquarium (I've been about a billion times. It's pretty nice. Cute whales.)
Mystic Seaport (check it out if you're into maritime history)
Foxwoods Casino & outlet mall
Nautilus Museum (submarine & naval museum, Groton)
Walk around Stonington Borough
Olde Mystik Village (cheesy shopping, cute)
Downtown Mystic
Rent paddleboards in Mystic
Fort Griswold & Fort Putnam
Hike Lantern Hill (ton of other hiking too).

If you have more specific questions I'm happy to answer. I am a cadet at USMA but grew up around USCGA; my family sponsors some of their cadets.
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This is incredibly helpful! Thanks!
 
sanman said:
Love Bleu Squid!!
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Do you have any suggestions for day trips or a quick 2 day visit somewhere else? We are there for about 10 days so we could venture out the area for a bit too. We are not really big city kind of people so Boston may not really appeal to us.
 
I don’t know the area that well but if you are up in that area for a while you could probably spend a couple of days on Cape Cod.
sogviamask said:
Do you have any suggestions for day trips or a quick 2 day visit somewhere else? We are there for about 10 days so we could venture out the area for a bit too. We are not really big city kind of people so Boston may not really appeal to us.
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sogviamask said:
Do you have any suggestions for day trips or a quick 2 day visit somewhere else? We are there for about 10 days so we could venture out the area for a bit too. We are not really big city kind of people so Boston may not really appeal to us.
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Boston has plenty to offer, historic places-wise, but to see “Old Ironsides,” USS CONSTITUTION, is special. Not sure what pandemic rules apply.
 
Personally, if you have the time then bop over to Newport - 1 hour drive. Good food and lots to see.
 
sogviamask said:
Do you have any suggestions for day trips or a quick 2 day visit somewhere else? We are there for about 10 days so we could venture out the area for a bit too. We are not really big city kind of people so Boston may not really appeal to us.
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Newport, Providence
 
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